The House Wren (Scientific name - Troglodytes aedon) is a small fairly plain looking brown bird and is found throughout the Western Hemisphere from the tip of South America to the north of the Canadian Provinces. The House Wren is brown overall with dark barring on back and wings. They have longish tails and a long thin slightly curved bill. They have a faint eyebrow. Photos taken on Saltspring Island, British Columbia in June 2016.
The Green Heron (Scientific name - Butorides virescens) is a small heron that can be found from northern South America to as far north as southern Canada, although not found in mountains of the western U.S. They are a very colourful bird, with deep green on the back and a chestnut to almost purple breast and neck. Wings are a dark grey. They have a dark green crown and dark upper bill with a yellow patch in front of the eye. Legs are yellow and not overly long. Photos taken in Abbotsford, British Columbia in summer 2016.
The Hairy Woodpecker (Scientific name - Picoides villosus) is very similar in appearance to the Downy Woodpecker. It is however larger and has a longer bill. The head is square and it has long tail feathers. The breast is white and the back is black and checkered white. The Hairy has two white stripes on the head and males have a red patch at the back of the head.
They can be found throughout North America. These photos taken April 2014 (back view) and April 2016 at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve in Chilliwack, British Columbia.
The Red-bellied Woodpecker (Scientific name - Melanerpes carolinus) is found in the eastern part of the United States from southeast Texas to Florida and as far north as the southern great lakes. They are medium sized with a round head and a black and white striped back. They have a red cap and nape and a small amount of red on the belly. In size they are similar to the Hairy Woodpecker. Photos taken in August 2016 in Tavernier, Florida
The Snowy Egret (Scientific name - Egretta thula) is found throughout South and Central America, the Caribbean and into the Southern United States. They are a medium sized heron with long black legs and yellow feet. The bill is black with a patch of yellow skin at the base. Plumage is white. Photos taken in Cartagena, Columbia (top two) in March 2016 and at Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee, Florida in August 2016.
The White-crowned Pigeon (Scientific name - Patagioenas leucocephala) is a bird found in the Caribbean and into Southern Florida. It is a fairly large pigeon with mostly slate grey body and white cap on its head that extends down to the eye level. The eyes have a white iris and the bill has a pale tip. These birds are very fast in flight and their food is mainly fruit of hardwood trees. Photos taken on Big Pine Key, Florida in August 2016.
The Limpkin (Scientific name - Aramus guarauna) is a unique bird found in South America and as far north as Florida. It is a large brown bird somewhat resembling an Ibis or spoonbill, but are more closely related to rails and cranes. It forages in the swamps for molluscs with it's main diet being of apple snails. It has a distinct cry which has caused it to be known as the crying bird in some areas. The Limpkin has a long, slightly down curved bill, a long neck and long legs. Photos taken at Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee, Florida in August 2016.
The Flamingo (Scientific name -Phoenicopterus) is a large wading bird found in Florida, the Caribbean, South America, Mexico, the Galapagos, and parts of Africa and Asia. Although once thought to all be the same species, they have been categorized into six species in various parts of the world. They are a striking bird with long legs, a long neck and large bill. Their feathers range from greyish red (young) to light pink to almost red (adults). It is believed that their diet will cause the differences in the hues of their feathers. Photos taken in Maui, Hawaii in November 2015.
The Mew Gull (Scientific Name - Larus canus) is a small gull common along the Pacific Coast of North America. In Europe these gulls are known as Common Gulls. They have a mostly grey back, an unmarked yellow bill, a white head and underparts, black wingtips with white spots and yellow legs. First year birds have a greyish brown head and second year birds still display some greyish brown on the head. Photos are of what I believe to be a second year bird and taken August 2015 at Guemes Island, Washington.
The Sanderling (Scientific name - Calidris alba) is a small shorebird that breeds in the Arctic and migrates south as far as South America, Southern Europe, Africa and Australia. In North America it can be found on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts during migration. The Sanderling adult has black, whit and rust upper parts and rust on the chest with a white under belly. The bill is short and dark and the legs are black. The non-breeding adult displays mainly grey upper parts and a white face and neck. The photos shown are of a non-breeding Sanderling and were taken in Maui, Hawaii in November 2015.
